What do you do when your master’s thesis spirals out of control? Turn it into a PhD. That’s exactly what Sampsa Suvivuo did—transforming his thesis into a full-blown dissertation. With support from the KAUTE Foundation, he found the focus and funding to dive deep into research.
A Curious Mind at the Intersection of Tech and Humanity
“I’m a researcher at heart. I love diving deep into a topic,” Sampsa says. That passion led him to explore the world of digital gig-work platforms—think Fiverr or PeoplePerHour—and the ethical and structural challenges they pose as they scale.
His dissertation asks a bold question: Should platforms take greater responsibility for the people whose services they broker? Platforms need stability to deliver services reliably, but flexibility to serve users well. Striking that balance is no small feat.
As platforms evolve to mirror their users, friction creeps into their ecosystems. How much should they intervene in what happens on their turf? “My research asks: how do you guide something you don’t directly control? Platforms can’t dictate what users do—they can only nudge.”
The Art (and Hustle) of Securing Research Funding
Suvivuo began his PhD during the pandemic, collecting data almost entirely online. The doctoral process at Aalto University School of Business consists of employment at the university, support from the Helsinki School of Economics Foundation, and grants applied for by the researcher.
“Applying for grants is a job in itself. But like any job, it gets easier with time.”
He praises KAUTE Foundation’s process: “Writing the application sharpens your thinking. Explaining what you’re doing and why is easy. The harder part? Who benefits from your research. But KAUTE has been generous.”
With KAUTE’s backing, Sampsa published two articles and made major strides on his dissertation. “Funding applications are part of the academic game, and now I know how to play.”
Freedom, Responsibility, and a Dash of Humor
Research life feels entrepreneurial to Sampsa: freedom and responsibility ebb and flow. Working on a grant means less admin than a university contract, but questions like social security still loom large.
“Research is like religion ten, math zero,” he jokes.
Despite the challenges, he feels at home in academia: “I had fantastic supervisors who were genuinely excited about my topic and invested time in guiding me.”
Not Just a Degree—A Lifelong Learning Journey
Sampsa’s curiosity didn’t stop at platforms. During his PhD, Sampsa ventured into cybersecurity, and he wasn’t exactly idle. He’s also finishing a second master’s degree from the University of Jyväskylä.
“This second master’s degree has felt easier than the first so far. My thinking and learning skills have fortunately improved over the years, although now my own standards are also higher.”
People and technology are a combination that fascinates Suvivuo. His dissertation gave him platform expertise that benefits his cybersecurity-related work.
So where is he now?
“I started at Elisa in January.”
Sampsa Suvivuo is a prime example of how academic degrees can benefit society at large.
What or who has broadened your perspective?
“Either my opponent or Nightwish. My opponent saw things I hadn’t considered. And Nightwish? Their song Endless Forms Most Beautiful, inspired by Darwin’s closing words, fits my research perfectly. Platforms seem simple: a technical and social system connecting parties. But when millions of decision-makers enter the ecosystem, complexity—and endless change—emerges.”
If money was no object, what wild dream would you pursue in your research?
“I’d build 5–10 gig-work platforms with different strategies to see who survives the valley of death. Similar mechanisms can yield different outcomes, and vice versa. What’s essential for platform vitality? What’s just a nice-to-have? What’s context-specific? That’s what I’d love to uncover.”
Want to learn more?
Sampsa’s Reading List
- Cusumano, Gawer, Yoffie (2019) – The Business of Platforms
- Lehdonvirta (2022) – Cloud Empires: How Digital Platforms Are Overtaking the State and How We Can Regain Control
- Tiwana (2014) – Platform Ecosystems: Aligning Architecture, Governance and Strategy
- Parker, Van Alstyne & Choudary (2016) – Platform Revolution
- Shapiro & Varian (1999) – Information Rules
- Evans & Schmalensee (2016) – Matchmakers
- Sundararajan (2017) – The Sharing Economy
The KAUTE Foundation’s general grant call is open until January 30, 2026. Read more about our call here.